there's a secret i've been perfecting.

all photographs and edits by Tamara Lawniczak, 2013.

one can argue that the art of photography is being able to capture a candid moment in time. this is true. but to me to perfect this art is more than just having the technical skills to work a camera. anyone can learn that, but not everyone has the eye for composition or the imagination for concepts. which leads me to my official introduction to this creative i’ve had the pleasure of getting to know really well and finally collaborating with. my friend, Tamara Lawniczak. small in stature, but large in talent and creativity. i loved every minute of working with this girl, and i think it’s because she shares the same obsessive compulsive-disorder as me. she is an absolute perfectionist with her work and so i know i can trust her with the smallest detail. but besides her artistry i am honoured to have her be part of my network and social circle.

special thanks to the following people who made our visions come to life. such a great job all round. please take the time to click on their respected sites and ‘like’ them on FB.

photographer | TAMARA LAWNICZAK www.tamaralawniczak.com

https://www.facebook.com/TamaraLawniczakPhotography 

hair and make up | RENNAN DIZON www.rennandizon.com

https://www.facebook.com/rennandizonart
an amazing artist and close friend of mine who i've been collaborating with for years.
model | SEPIDEH ASGARI
a beauty that i have admired and had been wanting to shoot since last year. 
work experience assistant | BRANDY POSE
a beautiful young lady whom i've had the opportunity to watch grow. my first willing work experience girl.

view the rest of album HERE.

only for the diligent.

i recall the time when it was no longer fitting to wear baggy jeans out clubbing. i also remember not giving a fuck about what was ‘socially acceptable’ to wear out in public. the ever growing trend of fashion blogging has somewhat destroyed the illusive world of fashion for me. it used to mean something to get accepted in a recognised fashion school to study the design principles among other enthusiasts and be taught by professionals in the industry. now all you need is a url and hey presto you are a certified style icon. here are my top 5 fashionista woes:

1. having mountains of clothes doesn’t measure how fashionable you are, i can guarantee you that a good amount of that wardrobe would not be accepted at Salvos.
2. designer wear is all the hype. half of you don’t even know why you spend thousands on a designer piece, other than the fact that it was featured on your instagram feed. high end fashion was once known for it’s impeccable detail, quality and exclusivity.
3. enhancing your body and saying it’s to boost your self confidence and then having the sudden urge to post provocative ‘model’ shots on the web AND THEN letting the world know you are unimpressed by the unwanted attention you get is just…confusing really. way to be humble.
4. throwing on all your mismatched clothing doesn’t make you eclectic. it just doesn’t.
5. and lastly, uploading shameless selfie pics (clothed or unclothed) with your iphone in the frame is not attractive. nor is it sexy.

this is not me being cocky, this is my developed thought process and evaluation of how quickly technology and society has advanced, or rather, misinformed the scope of fashionistas out there. dare to start a fashion blog, but please do have something different and informative to talk about.

swag is for boys. class is for men.

...and i could not agree more with that statement. 

there's this pilgrimage that happens twice a year in the fashion capital city of Florence, where the masses of stylish men flock to view the latest menswear collections, gadgets and gear. they call it Pitti Uomo. i have a huge appreciation for menswear, both street and formal, hence my 3:2 ratio of women's and men's clothing in my wardrobe. the craftsmanship is next to nothing when it comes to tailoring and detail with men's fashion. it's a well composed combination of structure, colour, texture, functionality, modernism and tradition. i'd easily choose to witness this trade show over a Celine parade any day. bucketlisted.

photo credits: I'M KOO, Becaria De La Moda, The Sartorialist.

Wang joins a weird trip.

i woke up to updates yesterday with Alexander Wang's face photoshopped on Balenciaga's Join A Weird Trip print tee. and with that i thought to myself, the kid has made it big time! i wanted to post my initial reaction to this yesterday but thought, i 'm not those fashion bloggers who post themselves sporting the latest collections so who was i to blog about my opinion on this. but after someone who i had became friends with through my design work messaged me last night asking what i thought about this big industry move, i said, fuck it i'm gonna tell you what i think anyway...

i got hooked on the Balenciaga aesthetic ever since it's Fall 2007 collection which saw the popularism of the jodhpurs and sports jacket. and after learning a bit more of the fashion house's history on my visit to the Cristobal Balenciaga exhibition in Paris and watching a documentary on the rise of a star, Alexander Wang on the flight to Europe, i base my opinion on this. 
i love Alexander Wang, his style and work was one of those that got me intrigued about runway fashion. to have had only been in the industry for just over 5 years and now set to be the successor for Balenciaga is a testament to this designers talent. but a part of me feels that he needs a few more years under his belt to be 'running the show'. Cristobal Balenciaga was known for his intricate embroidery and atypical silhouettes by broadening the shoulders and losing the waist, fashion forward beyond his years. as Wang's aesthetic is young and very much sportswear with the 'just rolled out of bed' attitude. in saying that, under the reigns of Nicolas Ghesquirre the design house has acquired a biker edge with its recent collections.

only time will tell the outcome of this massive move. all eyes are definitely on this young designer's every step. and i for one anticipate the trappings of his success.

Maison Martin Margiela: above the creation of mankind.

i thought this post would be relevant for the eve of the launch of MMM for H&M. all hail the genius that is Maison Martin Margiela! it's the designers reinterpretation of everyday objects and manipulation of garments that create such a stir in the industry with this sense of an anti-fashion vision that is ever so addictive. i'm not quite sure if i can fully support these high end fashion house collaborations with fast fashion retail clothing companies such as H&M, as it defeats the purpose of the designer's exclusivity. but on the other hand, it gives the opportunity for non high rollers such as myself who can only dream of having a wardrobe of designer pieces at hand, with a reasonable price tag attached. aside from the fashion, MMM has a very avant-garde twist on the way they represent the label. it was on the top of my list to visit a Margiela boutique or two while on my world trip. and not once was i disappointed with what was presented in front of us. here are some of the sneaky snaps i took at the Tokyo boutique.

what would Jesus want.

it takes a certain kind of crazy to do VM as a job. like anything in fashion, there's a lot more to it than the 'glamour'. more often than not i think of running away from it all and work for another company or chase bigger dreams. but then again i think to myself, how many other jobs out there showcase your work for hundreds of by passers to see, and what other window styling job let's you choose and style a Christmas window full of stock you want for yourself! hah. i guess i could be doing worse things with myself.

but on another note, styling tips if you care to read on. this relates to both merchandising and styling for day to day. i always try to justify my aesthetic choice of black, because people often find it too dark and heavy (especially for summer). black is complementing, simple, classy and chic as fuck. need i say more?

Get the London look.

LFW Somerset | Christopher Ciccone shoe launch | Big Ben | side alley instagraming | house party |
Jefferson Hack and Rankin, Dazed & Confused exhibition.

just about to leave London town. it’s been a busy 8 day stay. there was a lot more to see here, fashion wise, compared to Paris. the British men were pristine, while the teens exuded a very punk culture. a lot of different characters to see out on the streets and interesting conversations to eavesdrop on in the tube.

department stores are amazing here, especially Harrods, Liberty and Selfridge, and not to mention the Topshop/Topman flagship store. it’s a whole different ball game when it comes to visual merchandising and styling. i had a lot to learn. visited a lot of modern museums. had some good times over lobster and drinks with some old friends from back then, as well as meeting a bunch of interesting creative people who are now part of my networking circle.

in the meantime, our flight out to Geneva is delayed and we will probably most certainly miss our connecting flight to NY. sucks to be us right now.

18/09/12